Shelf support arm with locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator shelf support arm includes a main body portion, a hook and a locking mechanism. The main body portion is generally planar in a vertical plane. The hook extends from the main body portion. The hook and the main body portion define an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the refrigerator to which the arm is to be mounted. The locking mechanism is carried by the main body portion. The locking mechanism is moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/825,762 filed 15 Sep. 2006, which application is herein expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present teachings relate generally to refrigerators. More particularly, the present teachings relate to a refrigerator having a shelf support arm with a locking mechanism.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Refrigerators are commonly used for both stationary and mobile applications. Refrigerators typically include one or more shelves removably mounted within a cabinet of the refrigerator. While such conventional refrigerator shelving arrangements have proven to be satisfactory for their intended uses, continuous improvement in the pertinent art remains desirable.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one particular aspect, the present teachings provide a refrigerator shelf support arm including a main body portion, a hook and a locking mechanism. The main body portion is generally planar in a vertical plane. The hook extends from the main body portion. The hook and the main body portion define an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the refrigerator to which the arm is to be mounted. The locking mechanism is carried by the main body portion. The locking mechanism is moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.

In accordance with another particular aspect, the present teachings provide a refrigerator including a cabinet and an upright member carried by the cabinet. The upright member includes a plurality of horizontally extending webs. The refrigerator includes a shelf support arm engaging the upright member. The shelf support arm includes a hook having an end spaced from the remainder of the shelf support arm to define an opening. A locking mechanism is carried by the shelf support. The locking mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf support arm with a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings, the shelf support arm shown operatively engaging an upright support member and cooperating with a substantially identical support arm to support a shelf.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a shelf support arm with a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings, the locking mechanism shown in a locked position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a shelf support arm with a locking mechanism similar to FIG. 2, the locking mechanism shown in an unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelf support arm of FIGS. 2 and 3 shown with the locking mechanism removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the detail shown in Circle 9 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end view of a locking mechanism in accordance with the present teachings.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS

The following description the present teachings is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With general reference to the drawings, a locking mechanism for a shelf arm in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character 10. As will become apparent below, the locking mechanism 10 is operative to secure a shelf arm within a shelving arrangement. In one application, the locking mechanism 10 may be used in a refrigerator for a vehicle. It will become apparent, however, that the present teachings may be used for other applications.

In the environmental view of FIG. 1, the locking mechanism 10 is shown operatively associated with a shelf arm 12. FIG. 1 further illustrates the shelf support arm 12 cooperating with a second substantially identical support arm 14 to support a shelf 16. In this regard, the shelf support arms 12 and 14 engage respective upright members 18. The support arms 12 and 14 may be constructed of metal or other suitable material.

Prior to addressing the construction and operation of the locking mechanism 10 and cooperating features of the support arm 12, a brief discussion of the exemplary use environment illustrated in the drawings is warranted. The shelf 16 may be a solid shelf 16 constructed of glass, acrylic, plastic or other suitable materials. In alternative applications, the shelf may be a wire shelf. The shelf 16 may further include a first trim piece 20 and a second trim piece 22. The first and second trim pieces 20 and 22 may be constructed of plastic. The first and second trim pieces may define channels for receiving edges of the shelf 12.

The shelf 16 may be supported by a pair of transverse members 24 (one of which is shown in the drawings) extending between the arms 12 and 14. The transverse members 24 may be received within channels defined by the trim pieces 20 and 22. The transverse members 24 may be constructed of metal rod stock or other suitable material.

The shelf support arm 12 may include a main body portion and a hook or hooked portion 26. The main body portion may be generally planar in a vertical plan (as installed). The hooked portion 26 may cooperate with the upright member 18 to selectively and removably position the shelf 16 relative to the upright member 18. The hooked portion 26 may cooperate with the man body portion 26 to define a slot 28 therebetween. The slot 28 may selectively receive one of a plurality of horizontally extending webs 30 carried by the upright member 18. The weeks 30 define portions of the refrigerator to which the shelf support arm 12 may be mounted. A lower portion of the support arm 12 may oppose another of the webs 30 so as to support the support arm 12 in a cantilevered fashion.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the support arm 12 of the present teachings may be further adapted to moveably receive the locking mechanism 10. In this regard, the support arm 12 may include an elongated slot 32. The slot 32 may be elongated in a generally horizontal direction. The elongated slot 32 may additionally define an enlarged portion 34 adjacent one of the ends. The enlarged portion 34 may have a circular shape. The support arm 12 may additionally define an aperture 36 for receiving a fastener 38. The aperture 36 may be threaded or tapped by the fastener 38. These features of the support arm 12 will become more understood below.

The locking mechanism 10 may be unitarily constructed of plastic or other suitable material. The locking mechanism 10 may be secured to the support arm 12 for movement between a first or locked position and a second or unlocked position. Movement between the locked and unlocked positions may be linear. The locked position is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. The unlocked position is shown in FIG. 3, for example. In the locked position, one of the webs 30 is captured in the opening defined between the hook and the main body portion and the support arm 12 may not be removed from the upright member 18.

The locking mechanism 10 may include a slot engagement portion 40 extending from a rear side 42. The slot engagement portion 40 may include a pair of rearwardly extending arms 44 that pass through and slidably engage the slot 32. The slot engagement portion 40 may further include a flange 46 depending from the arms 44. The flange 46 may extend in a generally vertical direction and have a vertical dimension greater than a vertical width of the slot 32. In this manner, the flange 46 will normal retain the slot engagement portion 40 with the slot 32. The locking mechanism 10 may be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise through approximately 90 degrees from the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 to facilitate insertion of the flange 46 through the slot 32.

The locking mechanism 10 may further include a slot or elongated opening 50. The slot 50 may be positioned proximate a first end 52 of the locking mechanism 10 and extend in a generally horizontal direction. On a front side 54, the locking mechanism 10 may include a peripheral flange 56 surrounding the slot 50. The peripheral flange 56 may include an enlarged end 58. The enlarged end 58 may be sized and shaped to receive a head of the fastener 38.

At a second end 60, the locking mechanism 10 may include a locking portion. The locking portion may cooperate with the web 30 of the upright member 18 and the hook portion 26 of the support arm 12 to lock the shelf support arm 12 to the upright member 18. As shown most clearly in the detail view of FIG. 10, the locking portion may include a tapered lead in surface and may be angled rearwardly to facilitate introduction of the locking portion into the apertures defined by adjacent webs 30 of the upright member 18.

The locking mechanism 10 may additionally include an extension portion 62. The extension portion 62 may be centrally located on the locking mechanism 10 and extend in a generally vertical direction. The extension portion 62 may facilitate manual handling of the locking mechanism 10 during attachment to the support arm 12.

In use, the locking mechanism 10 may be slideably engaged with the support arm 12 by passing the slot engagement portion 40 through the slot 32 and engaging the fastener 38 with the aperture 36. Prior to tightening of the fastener 38, the shaft of the fastener 38 may be permitted to move along the slot 50 as the locking mechanism 10 is moved between its locked and unlocked positions. When the locking mechanism 10 is moved to its locked position and the fastener 38 is tightened, the head of the fastener 38 may seat within the enlarged portion 58 of the peripheral flange 56. In this manner, the fastener shaft is no longer permitted to move along the slot 50 and the locking mechanism 10 is maintained in the locked position. In the locked position, the locking portion of the locking mechanism 10 will prevent upward movement of the support arm 12 through engagement with a web 30 of the upright member 18. In other words, the web 30 is captured by the locking mechanism 10 and the hook 26 of the shelf support arm 12 to prevent inadvertent removal of the shelf support arm 12.

It will now be appreciated that the present teachings provide a locking mechanism 10 that may be carried by a shelf support arm 12. Upon moving the locking mechanism 10 to its unlocked position, the locking mechanism 10 and all associated hardware remain secured to the shelf support arm 12.

While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalence may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples may be expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art would appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it may be intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode of presently contemplated for carrying out the present teachings but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments following within the foregoing description and appended claims. 

1. A refrigerator shelf support arm comprising: a main body portion being generally planar in a vertical plane; a hook extending from the main body portion, the hook and the main body portion defining an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the refrigerator to which the arm is mounted; and a locking mechanism carried by the main body portion, the locking mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.
 2. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is linearly translatable between the first and second positions.
 3. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 2, wherein the main body portion slidably receives a portion of the locking mechanism.
 4. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 1, further comprising a motion arresting element for maintaining the locking mechanism in the second position.
 5. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 4, wherein the motion arresting element is a fastener that rotatably engages the main body portion and is tightened to secure the locking mechanism to the main body portion.
 6. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 5, wherein the fastener passes through an elongated opening defined by the main body portion.
 7. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 3, wherein the main body portion defines an elongated slot and the locking mechanism defines a slot engaging portion extending into the slot.
 8. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 7, wherein the slot engaging portion includes a pair of rearwardly extending legs connected to a flange portion, the flange portion extending generally parallel to the plane of the main body portion.
 9. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 8, wherein the flange portion has a vertical height greater than a vertical width of the slot.
 10. The refrigerator shelf support arm of claim 1, wherein the locking member includes an end having a tapered lead in surface that is angled rearwardly to facilitate introduction of the end into an opening adjacent the web.
 11. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; an upright member carried by the cabinet, the upright member including a plurality of horizontally extending webs; a shelf support arm engaging the upright member, the shelf support arm including a hook having an end spaced from the remainder of the shelf support arm to define an opening; a locking mechanism carried by the shelf support, the locking mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism is linearly translatable between the first and second positions.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the shelf support are slidable receives the locking mechanism.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 11, further comprising a motion arresting element for maintaining the locking mechanism in the second position.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the motion arresting element is a fastener that rotatably engages the main body portion and is tightened to secure the locking mechanism to the main body portion.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the further passes through an elongated opening defined by the shelf support arm.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the shelf support arm defines an elongated slot and the locking mechanism defines a slot engaging portion extending into the sot.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the slot engaging portion includes a pair of rearwardly extending legs connected to a flange portion, the flange portion extending generally parallel to the plane of the main body portion.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the flange portion has a vertical height greater than a vertical width of the slot.
 20. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein: the locking member includes an end having a tapered lead in surface that is angled rearwardly to facilitate introduction of the end into an opening adjacent the web. 